Archives

Categories

Post navigation

Holmes Program Develops Minority Teachers

In partnership with the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, Eastern is continuing its participation in the Holmes Program.

Left to right: Lucero Garza, Laina Rivers and Alexis Sanchez

This year, three elementary education graduate students–Alexis Sanchez (Uncasville), Lucero Garza (Willimantic) and Laina Rivers (Bloomfield)–are participating in the Holmes Master’s program, which supports students from underrepresented backgrounds who are pursuing careers in education.

While the National Center for Educational Statistics projects that 55 percent of all K-12 students in public schools will be students of color by 2023, more than 80% of all K-12 teachers are white. Unless teacher preparation programs recruit more students from minority populations, this underrepresented trend will continue into the future.

“Having the opportunity to be involved in a program that advocates for minority teacher recruitment is eye opening and rewarding,” said Rivers. “There are so many people of color interested in the education field but do not know where to begin or do not believe that they can be successful in the field. I am humbled and honored to be a part of such a program.”

“The Holmes Master’s Program has given me the opportunity to inspire and encourage underrepresented students to join the teaching force,” said Sanchez. “I have only had a handful of minority teachers in my life and would have liked to have had more teachers of color. There is a dire need for minority teachers nationwide to fill the diversity gap in schools. Being part of that movement has been an honor.”